How Many Streams Does Zayn I Don'T Wanna Live Forever Have?

December 9, 2016. That’s when 'I Don't Wanna Live Forever'—the haunting duet between Zayn and Taylor Swift—was released as a single tied to the 'Fifty Shades Darker' soundtrack. I was scrolling through music feeds that week and remember the sudden flood of moody, late-night playlists adding the song; it felt like every radio and streaming mood list wanted that slow-burn vibe. The track landed right in the holiday season of 2016, which probably helped it blow up fast—people were sharing it as winter driving music, in gloomy playlists, or as background to dramatic Instagram stories. The cinematic, breathy production paired with Taylor’s and Zayn’s voices made it feel like a mini soundtrack to breakups and late-night windows. If you want the exact day to tell your friends or date a playlist entry, put down December 9, 2016—then cue the brooding synths and dramatic key changes, and you’re set.

That duet absolutely blew up when it dropped — I was streaming it on repeat for weeks. Released for the 'Fifty Shades Darker' soundtrack in late 2016, 'I Don't Wanna Live Forever' climbed hard on the major charts: it reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and also peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. In Canada it actually hit the top spot on the Canadian Hot 100, and in places like Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and several European countries it comfortably settled inside the top 10 or top 20. The radio play plus streaming numbers made it feel omnipresent for a while. Part of what helped was the pairing itself — Zayn’s moody falsetto with Taylor’s icy tone matched the movie’s vibe perfectly, so it wasn’t just a pop hit, it was a soundtrack moment. The song earned multi-platinum certifications in multiple territories (including multi-platinum by the RIAA in the US) and racked up hundreds of millions of streams and views across platforms. It also had good longevity on airplay charts, which kept it visible beyond the initial surge. For me it’s one of those tracks that marks a moment in late-2010s pop: big names collaborating, soundtrack cross-promotion, and streaming plus radio driving global reach. Even now when it plays, it summons that cinematic, late-night energy — great for playlists or a moody commute.

Man, this song hits late-night vibes — here's how I play 'I Don't Wanna Live Forever' on guitar when I want that moody, slightly cinematic sound. I usually play a simple progression that fits the vocal melody nicely: Em - C - G - D. Put a capo on the 1st fret if you want to get closer to the recorded pitch; move it to taste if you're singing along. For the verse I keep things sparse: fingerpick the root bass on beat 1 and then roll the higher strings (pattern: bass, then 2-3-4 on the higher strings). That gives the haunting, spacey feel. For the pre-chorus I switch to a soft strum, palm-muted downstrokes to build tension, then open it up in the chorus with fuller strums. Strumming: D D U U D U (down, down, up, up, down, up) works great for the chorus; for verses try D (bass) x x U x U (play bass note, then light mutes, then two gentle ups). If you want the little intro riff, try alternating the Em bass (open low E string) with a higher melody on the B string — pluck E (open) then 3rd fret B string, then 2nd fret on G string; repeat with slight timing delay for that echoey effect. My tip: use reverb/chorus on amp or play near the neck for rounder tone, and practice the dynamic shifts so the chorus hits emotionally without being loud all the time.